William Brent Burns is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman, who sometimes has actually been utilized as a forward, presently playing for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was converted into a defenseman upon turning professional, after being drafted as an extreme right forward (20th overall) at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild.

During the shortened 2012– 13 season, and continuing through the 2013– 14 season, the Sharks used Burns as a forward. Starting with the 2014– 15 season, he was returned to defense. At the end of the 2015– 16 season, Burns finished third in electing the James Norris Memorial Trophy (awarded to the NHL’s best defenseman); one year later, at the end of the 2016– 17 season, Burns won the award for the first time in his career.

During the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Burns, along with a second-round draft pick in 2012, was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Devin Setoguchi, Charlie Coyle and a first-round choice in 2011. With a year still left in his contract with the Wild, Burns signed a five-year contract extension on August 1, 2011, with the Sharks; the deal would pay him $28.8 million over five years, with an average income cap figure of $5.76 million. In 2013, after rookie defenseman Matt Irwin’s acquisition by the Sharks, in March, Burns was moved to forward, where he scored 20 points in 23 regular season games. In the 2013– 14 season, Burns played the first 8 games of the season, however missed 13 games after October 21 due to sore gums. On November 21, Burns returned to the Sharks’ line-up and scored a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 5– 1 winning effort. On November 29, versus the St. Louis Blues, Burns recorded his first career hat-trick in a 6– 3 victory.

In August 2014, the Sharks announced that Burns would move back to defense.

On November 23, 2016, Burns signed an eight-year $64 million contract extension with the Sharks through 2024– 25, with an average annual value of $8 million annually.

Burns was named the best defenseman at the 2008 World Championships as he helped Canada to a silver medal finish as the host country. 2 years later, at the 2010 World Championships, Burns led all Canadian defensemen in ice time at 18:29 minutes per game as Canada finished in seventh location. He was also part of the summer season camp roster for Canada in the 2010 Winter season Olympics, though he did not make the last lineup cut. At the 2015 World Championships Burns was once again named the best defenseman, and a member of the dream team, as part of Canada’s gold medal-winning team.